Chapter Twenty-Six

Me: We're back guys!

Jay: Oh yeah, uh huh!

Kai: (eyeroll)

Me: I'm almost certain you guys will like this chapter. This is the first chapter I've ever done anyone's POV but Nya's and third person. Okay then, here we go!

Lindsey: Ever does not own Ninjago, but she owns the plot and her OCs.

Part 3, Chapter Eight: Friends, Parents, and Tears

(Nya's POV)

That evening, we all sit by the roaring campfire that Kai had whipped up. Christy has fallen asleep on Cole's shoulder, Anna and Abigail are playing some sort of game with sticks, Zane is fiddling with his switches again with Lindsey watching in fascination, and Kai and Lloyd are discussing something in soft whispers. I spot Jay sitting alone about twenty feet from the campfire. His head is down, and he seems lonely. I approach him quietly and gently, not wanting to completely intrude on his thoughts.

"What's wrong?" I ask softly. Jay turns to me, his face covered with grief.

"I'm alone again," he whispers.

"What do you mean, again?" I wonder aloud. A tear slides down Jay's right cheek and drops onto the ground.

"W-When I was a k-kid, I had no friends," he sobs. I sit down next to him, expecting a story. "I was al-always teased. I was that k-kid who nobody liked—the weirdo of the school. I mean, who'd w-want to be friends with the annoying p-poor kid who lives in a t-trailer?" This new piece of information shocks me. Jay, the brave Master of Lightning, was teased as a child for living in a trailer?

"I would," I say softly. Jay looks up at me, studying my expression and trying to see if I was kidding. His eyes are fogged up and glistening with tears. "I am your friend, Jay Walker." I have no idea how I knew his last name; it just came out of mouth. Huh . . . strange. Very slowly the corners of Jay's mouth turn up into a small smile.

"I . . . I . . ." he mutters, unable to say what is on his mind.

"Spit it out," I order gently.

"I'm just glad I'm not truly alone," he finishes. "I mean, with Nya gone, I feel so alone that I forget I have so many friends around me. Zane, Kai, Lloyd, Cole . . . and you." He smiles at me as he says the last word, his tears beginning to melt away.

My head begins to spin for reasons unknown. What is going on here? Jay stands up and walks away from me, his fingers gently touching my cheek as he passes (and I don't think it was on accident). I stand up as well and follow him back over to the campfire. I lie down next to the flames and watch Jay walk over to Cole. The two begin to discuss something in low tones. I eventually drift off to sleep, and I dream of being a normal fifteen-year-old girl.

(Lindsey's POV)

Zane is a really interesting guy. He flicks his switches with such speed and accuracy you'd think he'd been doing it his entire life. But earlier he told me he didn't even know he was a robot until right before he discovered his True Potential a while back. When all of Ninjago was told he was a robot, yes, people were shocked. Personally, I think it's kinda cool. Another thing that I love- I mean, think is cool about him is his Sixth Sense. I've never met another Seer like me before, and around him I feel so much different. "What is troubling you?" His soft, caring voice startles me from my thoughts.

"Um . . . uh . . ." Drat! I wish I wasn't so shy, but I can't help myself. My hands get sweaty, I blush slightly, and I stutter until whoever I'm talking to says something first.

"Lindz, it is fine if you do not want to tell me," he says softly. I jump. If anyone else had called me Lindz I would've mauled them. But this was Zane. He was different.

"You . . . you called me . . . Lindz."

"Is there something wrong? Would you prefer I called you Lindsey?" he asks politely.

"It's just . . ." I whisper. "My mother used to call me Lindz and . . . and . . . she died three years ago. She had cancer." I abruptly realize that Zane is the first person I've ever told about this. Anna, Abigail, or Christy doesn't know about what happened. They might think my mom still lives!

"I apologize. I did not realize it had so much emotional meaning for you."

"No," I whimper, tears stinging my eyes. "It's fine." I find myself sobbing. My eyes close and I collapse to my knees. I suddenly feel a pair of strong arms wrap around me, holding me tightly.

"It will all be all right," Zane whispers in my ear soothingly.

"I know," I cry, and then I bury my face into his shoulder. He smells of winter-mint and pine needles. I eventually cry myself to sleep, Zane holding me protectively until my eyelids droop and close, sending me into a deep slumber.

(Abigail's POV)

"I WIN!" yells Anna loudly, kicking her pile of sticks triumphantly. I groan.

"That's the fifth time this night! Man, I suck at this!" I sigh. Lloyd walks over to us.

"What's up?" he asks causally.

"The treetops!" I answer, giggling.

"Jeez, Abigail, you are so immature!" Anna exclaims, rolling her eyes.

"I don't mind it," says Lloyd with a huge grin on his face.

"Oh boy," groans Anna. She then whispers in my ear, "Have fun with your boyfriend."

"Shut up!" I say playfully. "You know it's not true!"

"Right," she says sarcastically, sounding a lot like Kai. I giggle to myself softly as Anna walks away. Lloyd sits down next to me.

"Does all this fighting junk bother you?" he asks.

"I don't like blood," I reply flatly. Lloyd raises his eyebrows.

"By the end of this I think you'll be used to it."

"I hope you're right," I sigh. " . . . Lloyd?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened to your parents?"

"Well . . ." he sighs, "my father was bitten by the Great Devourer is a kid, and he turned evil. Thanks to my awesome powers-" I giggle softly.

"Sorry, Lloyd. Go on."

"Anyway," he continues, "thanks to my awesome powers I was able to kill the Overlord, who created the Great Devourer. As for my mom, she left me at Darkely's School for Bad Boys so she could try to find a way to stop me from fighting my father."

"So . . ." I begin, "your parents are alive, good, and together?"

"Yep," he says happily. I hang my head.

"But you do know what's it like to have trouble with your parents."

"Yeah," he replies, "why? What's wrong?"

"My parents got divorced about three months ago and my dad just abandoned my mom and I," I cry.

"So it's still really fresh news," he says softly. I nod sadly. Slowly he wraps his right arm around my shoulder. "Don't worry. If you need someone to talk to, I'll be here."

"Thank you, Lloyd."

"You're welcome, Abigail." My head spins a bit when Lloyd reaches up and wipes my tears away from my cheeks. I can't help thinking to myself about how right Anna was. Maybe there is something between Lloyd and I . . .

Me: A really sweet, yet sad chapter, right?

Lloyd: . . .

Abigail: . . .

Lindsey: I . . . I wasn't shy as much.

Zane: . . .

Jay: . . .

Nya: . . .

Christy: OH ENOUGH WITH ALL THE '. . .' PLEASE!

Everyone else (not including me): . . .

Christy: ARRGH!

Me: All right then, I hope you readers enjoyed that chapter. There were some very emotional moments in this chapter, and I would LOVE your feedback! Please review!